Over 250 million years ago, this area was covered by a warm, shallow
inland sea. Millions of years of streams cutting down through this
region have resulted in gypsum capped bluffs, gorges, and canyons
exposing soft red shales and sandstones. Caves and extensive cave
systems created by the dissolution of gypsum provide critical
habitat for many species of hibernating and breeding bats.
During summer evenings in this Loop, millions of Mexican
free-tailed bats spiral out of caves into the evening sky to
consume tons of insects each night. The wide, slow-moving,
sandy-bottomed Cimarron River, the dominant water feature in this
Loop, is fed by numerous springs and creeks and provides nesting and
foraging habitat for the endangered Interior least tern. A
mixture of tallgrass and shortgrass prairie plants with abundant
scatterings of sand sagebrush and yucca create habitat for
roadrunners, rock wrens, bobcats, badgers, kangaroo rats, many
species of skipper butterflies, the Texas horned lizard,
and the western diamondback rattlesnake.

One-Day Outings: Fill
up your gas tank and pack a picnic lunch (grocery stores in Alva, Corner
Store, Freedom) or enjoy lunch at any of the local cafes and restaurants in
Freedom and Alva.

Alabaster Caverns SP (4-1):
Explore the largest gypsum cave in the world open to the public. Massive
boulders of gypsum are illuminated in many varied colors ---pink, white, and
even a rare black, by a state-of-the-art computerized lighting system. But
gypsum isn’t all you see in the cavern. There are 5 species of bats using
the cavern to hibernate or roost during the day. Other activities at the
Park include wild caving (permit required), sleeping in a cave, and hiking
the 4 trails ranging from ½ to ¾ mile in length. Prepaid reservations for
cavern tours are encouraged and can be made by calling the Park. (See
contact info above.)

Buffalo Creek (4-7) and Gypsum Prairie (4-5) scenic routes: The
Buffalo Creek scenic route traverses ~ 42 miles of gypsum bluffs and sand
sagebrush valleys. The Gypsum Prairie scenic route begins in Freedom, where
main street retains the old western cowtown appearance, and weaves its way
for ~ 21 miles through gypsum prairie vistas to
Avard Lake (4-4). This small lake was built to provide aquatic
habitat for wildlife. A picnic area provides a place to relax with a snack
and watch kingfishers, orioles and waterfowl enjoy open water in an arid
region of the Great Plains. Note: No Public Restrooms are available on
either of these routes.

Birding Route:
Start with a full tank of gas and be aware public restrooms are available at
Alabaster Caverns, Freedom, and Alva. Begin at sunrise at the overlook atAlabaster Caverns (4-1) then take
Raptor’s Roost Trail to just past Water Cave to observe bird species in the
densely wooded canyon below the bluffs. Drive north from Alabaster Caverns
through Freedom. Go west on Hwy 64 to the junction of Hwy 34 N, travel
north 6 miles, turn west on Major Rd, travel 2 ½ miles to the Cimarron Hills WMA (4-9). Return to Hwy
64, travel west to the Cimarron River Bridge to watch hundreds of turkey
vultures at the Turkey Vulture Roost (4-3)
(not present in winter) as they prepare for their day of soaring from the
power lines. Continue west on Hwy 64, turn south on Hwy 34 and travel 4
miles. Turn east (left) on EW15. Follow road to Cimarron Bluff WMA (4-8). Return to Hwy
34, turn south (left) and turn east (left) on EW20. Drive 4 miles east,
turn south (right), travel 1 mile and turn east onto EW21. Travel
approximately 9 miles to Hwy 50. Alabaster Caverns is 1 mile to the south
and the town of Freedom is 5 miles to the north. Next, take Gypsum Prairie scenic route (4-5) out of
Freedom (~ 21 miles) to Avard Lake (4-4)
and then, if reservations are made in advance (580.327.8564), take a tour of
Northwestern OK State University Museum of Natural History to view specimens
of western OK.

Guest Ranches

Selman Ranch Lodge (4-2):
The
Lodge offers longhorn cattle drives, wildlife viewing, birding, fishing,
hiking, trail riding and more! One of the key attractions of this working
ranch are booming and dancing of the male prairie chickens from March to May
on the several leks on the ranch. The guesthouse, once the train depot in
Selman, OK, sleeps six and has its own bathroom and kitchen with a small but
growing Library. Contact:
www.selmanguestranch.com; 580.256.2006.

Special Wildlife-Viewing Events: Selman Living
Laboratory (4-6)
offers star parties to the public at their state-of-the-art observatory on
top of a gypsum bluff. For information:
www.biology.uco.edu/SelmanLL. During the month of July public viewing
of the emergence of over 1 million Mexican free-tailed bats is hosted by the
OK Wildlife Dept. For more information:
www.watchbats.com; 405.424.0099.